I am among those who think that science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is also a child placed before natural phenomena which impress him like a fairy tale.

*Marie Curie*

So, I officially start my finals tomorrow morning at 8am. The day is kicked off my a nice comprehensive Microbiology final, followed by a Psychology & Law final. Then it's on to cram this weekend into studying for my Ethics final. It is times like these that I wonder why I ever decided to pursue science--what in the WORLD was I thinking?!?! Then I realize, as soon as my Microbiology final is over, I am officially done with science for my undergraduate career and it makes me quite sad. Sure, I get frustrated now and then with it, especially during finals, but science is a fairy tale to me, it is magical. Some people find magic in arranging words to create a novel, some while painting a masterpiece to hang on the wall, for me, I find magic the magic in science, mostly biology. I read a quote once "science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind." That quote rings so true to my ears--I cannot see seperating them--you need them both to understand the trueness of the world. As I have been studying for my last undergraduate science final, I remembered the last 3 years: all nighters in the Organic lab working on lab reports and drawing endless mechanisms, late nights in the biology labs, & being amazed in Microbiology lab when there seemed to be nothing on my loop when I streaked my plate-- I took a Human Anatomy course over the summer--it was heaven for me. Sure, it was A LOT of work and dedication, but it was so exciting. To learn how the human body works--to see how neuropathways come together to work, how things are so synchronized to make your heart beat, your limbs move, and your brain think and how it all works together to create the living breathing you is pretty awesome--I believe I was excited most of the summer about what I was learning. How one could look at the human body and not believe in God I have no idea--how one could look at the Heavens and not believe in science, baffles me just as much. So tonight, as I sit freaking out about my Microbiogy final in the morning, I am trying to remind myself why I love science, because moments like these make question my sanity! (Smile) If I only had a nickel for the number of late nights while I was drawing organic mechanisms or stressing over biology proposals that I threatened to drop out of school and move to the Bahamas, I'd have my student loans paid off in full! (Smile) There were some rocky moments, but sleep deprivation, long hours in the science lab, and a group of other sleep deprived science nerds can lead one to crazy thoughts --but as soon as you put a little food in us, gave us some sleep, and a shower, we were all happy to be in the program we were in. There will be a sense of joy tomorrow--that I have survived the horrors of the pre-med sciences, but there will be a sense of sadness--I NEVER thought I would say this, but I'll almost miss those late nights in the lab--when all of us science folk were hanging out in Westerman all night writing lab reports, sleeping in the Chemistry lounge, and returning to class the next day with finished lab reports wearing the same clothes we wore yesterday for we had literally spent the night in the lab--a sense of accomplishment (and craziness) comes with that--we also made some AWESOME memories!! I am grateful for science and for the first time grateful for being a science nerd, with a sense of gratitude for never having to say "Sorry, I cannot go have fun with you, I have lab." Labs have been my life...now, on to the lab of the world! (Smile) I'm done procrastinating now so I don't have to sign up for the 5 year plan! Night

Picture: Me and my fun Micro book